TMJ Pain & Headache Relief with TruDenta® in Annapolis & Calvert

Part of your treatment can include a cold laser, effective in reducing inflammation that can cause headaches.

Effective Treatment with Proven, Natural Methods

Research has shown that many headaches are caused by imbalances in the musculoskeletal system of the head, neck or jaw. These imbalances force the muscles of the head, neck or jaw to work overtime, causing inflammation and tension that can lead to headaches and migraines.

They can also lead to jaw joint problems, known collectively as TMJ disorder. The TMJ is the jaw joint, also known as the temporomandibular joint.

Dr. Schultheis uses a breakthrough treatment protocol called TruDenta to effectively treat TMJ and headache pain in a few short visits—without the use of drugs or surgery. Dr. Schultheis has found that even chronic migraine headaches quickly respond to this effective, natural treatment.

What is TruDenta?

TruDenta is a revolutionary treatment method for people who suffer from TMJ pain or chronic headaches. TruDenta therapy consists of two stages: first, a detailed, scientific diagnosis to pinpoint the underlying cause of the problems, and second, a tailored treatment program using effective, spa-like, natural techniques to eliminate tension and pain.

Individual treatment sessions are one hour long and are scheduled at weekly intervals. Depending on the severity of their condition, patients usually require from one to twelve treatments. Many patients experience significant pain relief after just a few visits.

Thorough Diagnosis

When you come to us for TMJ or headache treatment, Dr. Schultheis will perform comprehensive testing to determine if your headaches are the result of dental force imbalances. She uses the TruDenta diagnostics system, a patented and FDA-approved analysis system that includes the following:

Comprehensive oral exam and X-rays

Dr. Schultheis will conduct a thorough exam of your mouth, jaw and muscles in your head and neck.

Dr. Schultheis will conduct a thorough exam of your mouth and take X-rays to see if there are any obvious issues that are causing bite misalignment.

Full review of your symptoms and medical history

She will go over your symptoms with you, including when the symptoms started and any changes that may have occurred along the way. Dr. Schultheis will also review your medical history in detail and look for information that could be important to the resolution of your problems. For example, frequent use of certain painkillers can exacerbate headaches rather than relieve them.

Muscle exam

Dr. Schultheis will manually examine the muscles in your head and neck, looking for any tight, sensitive areas. These areas are known as “trigger points” and can play an important role in chronic headaches by spreading pain from sensitive areas to other parts of the head.

Range of motion analysis

The doctor will perform a range-of-motion analysis of your head, neck and jaws. This analysis measures how far you can move your head in different directions, how far you can turn your neck and how far you can move your jaws apart—both horizontally and vertically.

T-scan® bite force analysis

Using the T-scan device, we can measure the dental forces in your mouth and look for bite imbalances.

A vital part of the diagnostic process is a detailed bite force analysis using the T-scan® device. The T-scan device measures the dental forces in your mouth, including any imbalances that occur when you close your mouth, when you chew and when your mouth is closed and at rest. It also measures other important factors, such as whether the teeth are all coming together at once or if some teeth touch before others.

Dr. Schultheis uses the T-scan device to look for bite imbalances and to spot any incorrectly aligned previous dental work (such as crowns or bridges) that may be throwing off your bite.

Effective, Natural Treatment for Rapid Pain Relief

Dr. Schultheis will then formulate a custom treatment plan for you. TruDenta treatment typically includes the following:

Therapeutic ultrasound

During ultrasound therapy, ultrasonic (high-frequency) sound waves produce heat that increase blood flow to the affected areas. This promotes the healing of any nerve damage that may have been caused by long-term strain. Ultrasound therapy also reduces the sensitivity of trigger points in the muscles, and it reduces scar tissue that may have formed in the jaw joints as a result of past injuries or surgeries.

Microcurrent stimulation

Microcurrent stimulation uses a low-level, imperceptible electric current to reduce pain and increases healthy nerve stimulation. Microcurrent stimulation has proven to be particularly beneficial for patients who have trouble opening their jaws.

Trigger point massage

Your therapist will massage your head and neck area to break up muscle knots in your trigger points and increase blood flow.

Your therapist will massage your head and neck area to break up muscle knots in your trigger points and increase blood flow. This decreases pain and inflammation in the muscles and promotes healing.

Low-level laser

Home care

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, we may provide you with a TruDenta home care kit. This kit contains useful tools that will help you relieve headaches and migraines at home.

Temporary Oral Appliance

Dr. Schultheis may provide you with an oral appliance to re-train your jaw muscles and allow them to relax when your mouth is at rest.

Dr. Schultheis may provide you with a temporary orthotic (an oral appliance like a nightguard) to re-train your jaw muscles and allow them to relax when your mouth is at rest. This often provides significant relief. Dr. Schultheis will let you know when and how often to wear the appliance. A temporary appliance is usually worn for four to twelve weeks at the beginning of treatment, and then you can switch to a custom-made nightguard.

Bite Adjustment for Permanent Relief

If a badly aligned bite was found to be contributing to your headaches or other complaints, Dr. Schultheis will first use the TruDenta protocol to get you out of pain. When your muscles and nerves have had a chance to calm down, the doctor will adjust your bite to prevent any recurrence of problems.

If the misalignment is caused by old dental restorations that are throwing the bite off, Dr. Schultheis can adjust these restorations, or replace them if necessary. If the teeth need to be moved into proper alignment, she offers several methods of teeth straightening that are specifically designed for adults, including Invisalign® clear aligners, Fastbraces® and Six Month Smiles®.

Removal of Amalgam Fillings

The heavy metals used in amalgam fillings can leach into your body and can contribute to chronic headaches.

Another important factor that can contribute to chronic headaches is the stress placed on your body by heavy metals. The heavy metals used in amalgam fillings can leach into your body and put a constant strain on your liver and the other organs that are responsible for detoxification. If you have old metal fillings, Dr. Schultheis can test you for metal toxicity and determine if your fillings are contributing to your headaches.

Dr. Schultheis can remove your amalgam fillings and replace them with porcelain restorations or other biocompatible materials. During this procedure, we use full safeguards to prevent any mercury vapors from getting into your system.

What Is TMJ?

TMJ or TMD stands for “Temporomandibular Joint Disorder”, a disorder of the chewing muscles and the jaw joint (also called the temporomandibular joint, referring to the connecting hinge between the skull and the lower jaw). TMJ can result in a wide array of symptoms, including headaches. It can manifest after an injury to the head and neck area, but it can also result from bad posture, and even one’s diet can cause TMJ. People with TMJ often grind their teeth at night—this can be both a contributing cause and a resulting effect of TMJ.

TMJ Symptoms

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder include:

Clicking or popping in the jaw when chewing or opening the mouth wide

Pain throughout the face

Headaches, including migraines

Discomfort in the jaw and neck

Stiff facial muscles

Restricted movement of the jaw

Locking of the jaw

Teeth grinding

Changes in the bite and how the teeth fit together

Come and See Us for an Evaluation!

If you are having chronic headaches, come and see us for an evaluation and find out how TruDenta therapy could benefit you. Dr. Schultheis has helped many patients find relief through this life-changing treatment.

To make an appointment, call (410) 324-6271 (Calvert), (410) 324-6370 (Annapolis) or click here to request an appointment online.